Greenfield beauty spot trashed by litter louts

THESE SHOCKING pictures show the vast amount of rubbish senselessly left behind in a memorial forest at an award-winning Greenfield beauty spot by litter louts.

Mounds of rubbish are being left by unthinking visitors who take picnics and barbecues to the dedicated site at Dovestone Reservoir.

The pictures were taken by local Adam Wiseman, who visited the site during the sunny May Bank Holiday weekend with his family.

He said: “On the way in we passed through the memorial gardens and saw a group of people in their 20s playing football among all the trees and having a BBQ. We thought this a bit disrespectful at the least.

“We continued our picnic and were careful to keep our rubbish from being blown about the place in the breeze.

“After tidying up we set off back to the car, again passing through the memorial gardens. What we found was disgusting.

“I love the area and was brought up with respect both for our land and our dead.

“My message to those responsible is have respect for others and they will in turn respect you. You only tarnish people’s opinion of yourselves by such stupid ignorant actions.”

Philip Kersh, 30, is operations manager responsible for maintaining the 1,300 trees at the Life for a Life memorial garden which is set in a picturesque moorland vista.

He said: “It’s extremely disappointing a small number of visitors seem unable to respect such a magnificent local beauty spot.

“We work closely with the RSPB, United Utilities, Peak District National Park Rangers and police to ensure Dovestone is kept clean and tidy for all visitors to enjoy safety as well as protecting wildlife.

“Our small grounds team and the RSPB where on site all day on Sunday asking people not to have BBQs or fires and remove litter when they left.

“We even handed out black bags to picnickers to encourage them to take their rubbish home. We removed quite a few bags ourselves when people brought them to us or to our van.”

He added: “Visitors need to care for the environment and some people show little regard for the countryside. It’s not an extension of their back gardens.’

Miriam Biran, RSPB Visitor Experience Manager at Dovestone, said they had removed more than 100 huge litter bags since Easter.

“It is always disappointing to find dog bins overflowing with picnic litter and used BBQs and other food waste strewn across the ground,” she said.

“After all, people come here because it is a beautiful, unspoilt place so even more surprising there are still a few people who don’t respect the countryside or take responsibility for clearing up after themselves.

“All RSPB staff litter pick public areas on a regular basis with the United Utilities and Peak District National Park Rangers. We employ a contractor who empties dog bins and litter picks.

“If people bring food and picnics they should take the empty bags home or use the ample number of bins provided in the car parks.

“We are doing all we can to ensure this beautiful and popular place remains safe from fire and free from litter, but we need visitors to do their bit as well.”